(19)
(11) EP 1 024 389 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
19.05.2004 Bulletin 2004/21

(43) Date of publication A2:
02.08.2000 Bulletin 2000/31

(21) Application number: 00101282.2

(22) Date of filing: 27.01.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7G02B 26/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 28.01.1999 JP 2044699

(71) Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Shimomura, Hirofumi
    Minato-ku, Tokyo (JP)
  • Henmi, Naoya
    Minato-ku, Tokyo (JP)

(74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER 
Siebertstrasse 4
81675 München
81675 München (DE)

   


(54) Optical switch and optical switch systems


(57) There is disclosed an array type space optical switch (10) of the present invention, in which each one end of optical fibers (101a to 104a,101b to 104b) is fixed to support members (105a,105b). A space propagation part (200) is formed between the end surfaces of the optical fibers (101a to 104a and 101b to 104b). An interrupting plate is inserted to or extracted from the space propagation part (200). An optical element for collimating a light passed through the space propagation part (200) may be disposed in the space propagation part (200). In other embodiments the optical fiber ends are moved for the switching or an optical amplifier is used for the switching. A matrix type cross-connect optical switch is also disclosed.







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